Earlier than making your solution to the airport, there are two very important checks it’s good to do along with your passport
There are some very important passport checks you want to concentrate on earlier than going overseas, significantly forward of the February half-term.
During the last yr, there have been key adjustments to journey guidelines, together with will increase in passport prices, the rollout of digital-only boarding passes, and will increase in vacationer taxes. Nonetheless, one of the widespread errors in journey guidelines is failing to examine passports appropriately earlier than arriving on the airport.
If a passport is in date, it is simple to assume that it is tremendous to fly with it. However what Brits won’t realise is that their passport should be legitimate for a minimum of three months when travelling to the EU.
That is based mostly on the return date, reasonably than the departure date, so should you have been occurring vacation from July 25 to August 1, your passport should be legitimate till a minimum of November 1, 2026. Some international locations require six months of validity, however the EU solely requires three, so it is vital to examine your passport is legitimate.
It is vital to examine your passport earlier than heading to the airport (Picture: Getty Photos)
One other key examine is to make sure your passport was issued throughout the previous 10 years. The ’10 yr rule’ has caught travellers out, significantly for individuals who have been issued a passport earlier than September 2018, as they have been legitimate for 10 years and 9 months.
Whereas the passport could seem legitimate, it may in actual fact be over 10 years previous and due to this fact invalid for flying. In the meantime, passports issued after September 2018 are legitimate for 10 years, with the ’10 yr’ rule making use of to all passports.
For those who discover that your passport has expired for both of those causes, you possibly can renew it by way of the federal government web site. For those who’re pushed for time, you possibly can fast-track the method, however you’ll want to apply for a renewal as quickly as attainable.
In one other journey rule, the European Union (EU) launched the brand new Entry/Exit System (EES) for non-EU travellers coming into and exiting the Schengen space final yr. For UK passport holders, because of this reasonably than receiving stamps, your biometric data, together with fingerprints and {a photograph}, will probably be recorded on the border when travelling to a rustic within the Schengen space.
The Schengen space consists of a few of the hottest vacation locations, together with these which might be anticipated to be busy throughout the February half-term as households head off for a sun-soaked getaway.
Fingerprints and {a photograph} will probably be required on the EU border’s (Picture: Getty Photos)
The international locations within the Schengen space are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. In the meantime, the Republic of Eire and Cyprus usually are not a part of the Schengen space, so EES shouldn’t be relevant when visiting these international locations.
This modification took impact on October 12, 2025, and is aimed toward enhancing safety and in the end accelerating border crossings. Travellers don’t must do something additional earlier than arriving on the border, and there’s no further value for EES registration.
Nonetheless, to make sure a clean begin to your vacation and keep away from lacking your departing flight, travellers are suggested to permit additional time when arriving at EU airports or different entry factors. The digital EES will probably be legitimate for 3 years, and after this time, travellers might want to present further fingerprints or have a photograph taken on the border on entry and exit.
Travellers are suggested to permit additional time on the airport (Picture: Getty Photos)
Whereas nothing further is required, it is vital to notice the change so that you’re conscious that fingerprints and a photograph are required on the border when coming into a Schengen space. Plus, by being conscious of the change, you may know to anticipate some delays because the EES is rolled out.
The brand new system is not up and operating at each EU airport simply but, so it is best to examine earlier than arrival and permit additional time. Completion throughout all Schengen members is about for April 10, 2026.
Elsewhere, ETIAS (European Journey Data and Authorisation System) are anticipated to launch later this yr for travellers visiting the EU. The brand new visa waiver programme would require Brits to finish an ETIAS software earlier than occurring vacation to the EU, at a value of €20 per particular person.
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Nonetheless, as soon as authorised by way of a pre-screening, the ETIAS will probably be legitimate for 3 years, or till your passport expires. The launch of the brand new system, which is analogous to the US’ ESTA, is but to be confirmed, nevertheless it’s anticipated for This autumn of this yr.
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